Grounds Technician III

cityofgainesville; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Gainesville seeks a Community Builder to contribute to park operations and neighborhood improvements. You will perform semi-skilled craft work, operate equipment, maintain athletic fields and plantings, and provide excellent citizen service in city parks and conservation areas.

This role requires the ability to work under supervision, use tools, and perform physical tasks associated with grounds maintenance and carpentry-related duties.

Qualifications

• Skilled craft work requiring an above average degree of skill, knowledge and proficiency.
• Ability to operate mowers, tractors, backhoes and related park equipment.
• Provide information and assistance to citizens visiting parks or conservation areas.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes horticultural knowledge to install trees, shrubs and bedding plants.
• Operates park equipment and maintains vehicles and equipment.
• Performs maintenance on athletic fields including fertilizing and soil work.
• Repairs and constructs recreation equipment and wood structures.
• Offers excellent customer service to park visitors.

Skills

Tree & plant knowledge

Equipment operation

Maintenance work

Customer service

Job description

Community Builder - an employee with the City of Gainesville

Make a difference in the community you live in! As a Community Builder-an employee with the City of Gainesville you will have a direct hand in building and improving your community and making a visible impact on the lives of your neighbors. Working for local government is more than a job, it's a chance to contribute to community success and to help enhance the Gainesville way of life.

Department: GG_Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs: Park Operations

Salary Range Minimum: $17.89

Salary Range Maximum: $27.91

Closing Date: 10/07/2026

Job Details

Semi-skilled and skilled craft work, working independently or assisting skilled workers.

Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from higher classes by its lack of supervisory duties and from lower classes by its emphasis on skilled work requiring an above average degree of skill, knowledge and proficiency.

Job Description

SUMMARY

Semi-skilled and skilled craft work, working independently or assisting skilled workers. Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from higher classes by its lack of supervisory duties and from lower classes by its emphasis on skilled work requiring an above average degree of skill, knowledge and proficiency.

EXAMPLES OF WORK* This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower level duties may be required.

Essential Job Functions

• Utilizes a specialized knowledge of trees, shrubs, and bedding plants and horticultural practices to perform installation of city trees, shrubs, and bedding plants including, but not limited to, preparing planting sites, digging holes, setting and watering plants and preparing appropriate supporting structures.
• Operates motorized equipment such as mowers, tractors, frontend loader, backhoe trucks, dump trucks, and trailers used to transport materials and equipment to maintain parks, grounds, athletic fields and other areas. Operates other equipment as required. Services and washes vehicles.
• Inspects and performs scheduled preventative maintenance on assigned equipment including but not limited to, checking and making appropriate adjustments, lubricating, performing fluid and filter changes, replacing components and lighting maintenance and repairs.
• Performs expert care and maintenance activities on athletic fields including, but not limited to, verticutting, aerating, top dressing and installation of clay in-fill materials, chalking, dragging and watering infields and warning tracks, packing holes on pitchers' mounds, home plates and bullpens, laying out fields, painting lines and bases, picking up trash and removing practice equipment from fields.
• Performs athletic field maintenance activities such as fertilizing, planting, spraying, inspecting, and applying herbicides and pesticides.
• Calculates fertilizer rates and calibrates spreaders and sprayers for proper application rates.
• Evaluates weed control requirements by physical inspection and identification of vegetation type and extent of infestation.
• Selects appropriate chemical agent for control of specific diseases, insects and weeds considering type, infestation, environment and vegetation. Determines appropriate time and schedule for spraying, based on growing season, condition of surrounding areas including water and soil conditions, weather conditions and other variables.
• Performs skilled upkeep, maintenance and the assembly and repair of recreation equipment.
• Assists or performs skilled electrical, carpentry, plumbing, painting, concrete, and other trade work. Uses and maintains power hand tools, such as drill, nailing gun, and circular saws.
• Performs metal fabrication, cutting, welding and metal repairs.
• Installs and repairs fencing.
• Builds wood structures including pole barns, ramps, sheds, warehouses, pavilions, decks, concrete forms, fences and scaffolding.
• Performs hand and bench work in a carpentry shop.
• Performs excellent customer service by providing information and assistance to citizens who visit the City's parks or conservation areas.
• Supports City special events and programs by updating, repairing and caring for displays and exhibits, moving and lifting of heavy equipment, tables, and chairs, setting up barricades and other temporary traffic control devices, providing flagging services and cleaning up at the end of events.
• Assists in moving and storing office equipment and cleaning and maintai